Obituary of Mary-Joan Patricia WINTER

October 26, 1948 – Medicine Hat, Alberta November 27, 2017 – Calgary, Alberta Joni Winter passed away peacefully and went home to be with the Lord on Monday, November 27, 2017 at the age of 69 years. She was born in Medicine Hat, AB on October 26, 1948. Joni and her family moved to Calgary when she was five, where she attended Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Girls High School. She made many close and loyal friends during these years, and graduated in 1966. Joni received her degree in Education, with a major in Phys. Ed. She taught high school, before deciding to take a year’s leave to study dance at the Merce Cunningham Studio, and JoJo’s Modern Dance in NYC. She also went to England, to the Royal Academy of Dance in London. Upon returning to Canada, she joined the Jean Vanier L’Arche community for one year. It was after working there that she returned to her full passion of teaching art and religion at St. Stephen’s Elementary and Jr. High School for twenty-eight years. Her crowning achievement was the Annual Fine Arts Festival, over a thirteen year period. This festival culminated professional artists and students coming together to display and demonstrate their artistic skills and work. Students loved and appreciated her passionate and enthusiastic approach to teaching art. She brought to life the artist in many students. She developed a program called “Art throughout the Ages” to demonstrate the history and development of art expression. After twenty-eight years of teaching, she endeavored into the world of Real Estate. CIR Realty became her second home, where she made many new friends, and helped to mentor new agents. She thoroughly loved people, and assisting them with the purchase of a new home. Joni is survived by her father Hubert Winter; her brother Bob Winter, and his partner Ruth MacRae; her sister Barb Roycroft; her two beautiful daughters Rosie Grady, and Sara Jane dela Torre and spouse Chris. She is also lovingly remembered by her five grandsons, Isaiah and Benjamin Grady, and Micah, Noah and Theo dela Torre. Joni was predeceased by her mother, Mary Gladys Winter. Joni will be buried with her mother Mary Gladys Winter and her grandmother Elizabeth Ann Zillinsky. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road S.E., Calgary, AB) on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. Reception to follow at the funeral home. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the “Foundations for Senior Care Chinook Hospice”, to the attention of Doreen at 1261 Glenmore Trail S.W., Calgary AB T2V 4Y8, Telephone: (403) 258-0040. In living memory of Joni Winter, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road S.E., Calgary, AB Telephone: 403-256-9575.